The C Ethereal Deep Drop tuning (C2-G2-B2-E3-B3-C4) transforms your guitar into a resonant, almost keyboard-like instrument, deeply rooted in a C Major 7th tonality. As its original name, "Ethereal step down," suggests, this tuning evokes a spacious and dreamy soundscape.

Verbal Analysis

With its heavily dropped low C string and the high C an octave above, this tuning creates a rich, full-bodied sound that immediately transports you to an expansive sonic environment. The open strings themselves form a beautiful and lush C Major 7th chord (C-E-G-B), making it incredibly easy to create warm, resonant arpeggios and harmonious textures simply by strumming or fingerpicking the open strings. The combination of low and high C notes provides a strong, foundational root, while the strategically placed E, G, and B notes fill out the chord, giving it its 'ethereal' quality. This tuning is ideal for ambient music, fingerstyle, or anything requiring a broad, open sound.

Technical Analysis

Derived from standard E-standard tuning, the notes are C2-G2-B2-E3-B3-C4. The intervals between the open strings are particularly noteworthy:

• 6th to 5th string (C2-G2): A Perfect 5th. This allows for easy power chords on the lowest two strings by fretting at the same position.
• 5th to 4th string (G2-B2): A Major 3rd.
• 4th to 3rd string (B2-E3): A Perfect 4th.
• 3rd to 2nd string (E3-B3): A Perfect 5th.
• 2nd to 1st string (B3-C4): A minor 2nd (semitone). This very tight interval is unique, creating a powerful cluster when both strings are played open. When string 2 is fretted one fret up, it becomes C, creating an octave with the open 1st string.

The overall open string voicing forms a Cmaj7 chord (C-E-G-B), with the root (C) and major 7th (B) doubled at different octaves, and the 3rd (E) and 5th (G) also present. This rich harmonic foundation provides immediate access to a full Cmaj7 sound without any fretting.

Accessible Chords & Shapes

• Open C Major 7th: Strumming all open strings yields a full and resonant Cmaj7 chord, perfect for sustained ambient textures.
• Root-Fifth Power Chords: On the 6th and 5th strings (C2-G2), simply barre a single fret to create a perfect fifth. For example, fretting the 1st fret on both creates a C#-G# power chord.
• Melodic Arpeggios: The open string voicing makes it very simple to play arpeggios based on Cmaj7 across the entire fretboard, offering a wide range of melodic possibilities.
• Drone Effects: The low C and high C can serve as excellent drone notes, especially when combined with melodies or chords played on the middle strings.

Due to the diverse intervals, standard chord shapes will need significant adjustment, but this opens up a new world of unique voicings and experimental sounds, particularly within the Cmaj7 harmonic framework.

Open String Notes

• 6th String: C2
• 5th String: G2
• 4th String: B2
• 3rd String: E3
• 2nd String: B3
• 1st String: C4

How to Tune (from E Standard)

To achieve the C Ethereal Deep Drop tuning, you will need to adjust your strings as follows. Please take care, especially with significant downward tuning, as it can make strings feel very loose and may require a lighter touch for optimal playability. Tuning down 4 semitones or more will significantly reduce string tension, and while generally safe, can feel quite 'floppy' for some players. For optimal feel and tone, considering a heavier gauge string for the lowest strings might be beneficial.

• 6th String (E to C2): Tune down 4 semitones to C2.
• 5th String (A to G2): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D to B2): Tune down 3 semitones to B2.
• 3rd String (G to E3): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String (B to B3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 1st String (E to C4): Tune down 4 semitones to C4.